Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says three of its environmental police officers and their Labrador Retriever partners have received three weeks of special training from a state police K-9 unit.

The dogs have been trained to search on vessels, under rocks, and in other places where illegally taken fish could be hidden.

DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalen says dogs have been used throughout the country to assist officers fighting illegal fishing, hunting and trapping.

The newly trained K-9 teams are planning to demonstrate their abilities at DEEP's marine headquarters in Old Lyme on Friday.